Which Jobs Have The Fastest-Growing Salaries in Ireland And How Can I Get Them?

Finding roles with high wages in Ireland is a goal set by many in the country. But what jobs are in demand, and which industries are thriving in the Irish economy? 

In this article, we’ll examine which job sectors are seeing the fastest wage growth by looking at how much salaries have risen in the last five years, revealing the best job in Ireland to get if you’re keen to see regular salary increases.

According to data from the Central Statistics Office, at the end of Q3 2022, average weekly salaries in Ireland had risen by 20.5% in the past five years, with the average hourly earnings for all sectors standing at €26.17. 

Whether or not you’ve seen wages rising depends on your industry and job title, with some sectors and roles rising by substantial amounts in the past five years, whilst others have seen smaller increases in that same period. Wage growth is something that people are keen to see in their working life, and Irish job seekers might be keen to hold out for a role they know will guarantee regular pay increases.

There are many factors that have influenced wage growth and average salary in Ireland over the last five years, with the pandemic and rises in inflation being the biggest contributors. With prices of goods and services rising, Irish workers will be more inclined to find roles that offer wage rises that are above the rate of inflation in order to avoid cuts to their standard of living and purchasing power. 

With that in mind, below are the job sectors that have seen the fastest wage growth in the past five years, making roles in these areas ideal for those on a job search for high-paying roles in Ireland.

According to data from the Central Statistics Office, wages for those working in Accommodation and Food rose by 22.9% in the past five years. At the end of Q3 2022, the average hourly wage in this sector was €15.28. Although this hourly wage is lower than in other sectors, the large rise in wages seen over the past five years demonstrates that this may become a good career field for those who want to see their wages go up faster than in other areas.

Roles in Accommodation and Food cover a large area, but common roles in this area include being a waiter, working in a hotel or tourism site, or working in a kitchen. After some years of experience or with the right qualifications, you can move beyond entry-level salaries and find better-paid roles in the Accommodation and Food job market.

For those looking to become skilled in this area, taking on courses in Hotel Management or hospitality-related courses would be the best step to take. For those who want to start a business within the Accommodation and Food industry, taking courses in Wedding Planning can be useful, as this field often crosses over with the Accommodation and Food sector. 

According to data from the Central Statistics Office, wages for those working in Construction rose by 23.6% in the past five years. At the end of Q3 2022, the average hourly wage in this sector was €23.88. This means that those working in this area not only benefited from higher hourly wages than those working in the Accommodation and Food sector but also saw faster-growing wages as well. 

Construction is a wide-ranging industry, with many different roles available. Typical roles in this industry are plumber, carpenter, electrician, or site inspector. However, the scope of roles in Construction can go far beyond those roles.

Taking courses to learn a specific trade that is used in the industry of Construction is a great way to break into the industry. If you’re keen to become involved in Construction from a business perspective, taking courses in Management, Leadership and Business can help you achieve that goal.

According to data from the Central Statistics Office, wages for those working in Arts and Entertainment rose by 23.7% in the past five years. At the end of Q3 2022, the average hourly wage in this sector was €19.62. In terms of take-home salary, the Arts and Entertainment sector has huge amounts of variability, depending on your role and whether you are involved from an artistic or production perspective. 

You could become an actor, dancer, or singer, work in a production-related role, or help market and manage events and performances.

For some roles in the Arts and Entertainment sector, such as acting or singing, there are no formal qualifications you need before you get started. However, getting professional training in one of the arts can be a good way to help you get your foot in the door and find work in this sector. 

For those wanting to find other roles in this area, taking on courses related to how to use technical equipment or learning relevant media and digital skills can allow you to kick-start your career. More widely, as Arts and Entertainment heavily rely on Digital Marketing, becoming qualified in this area can allow you to take advantage of opportunities in this sector. Additionally, becoming qualified in Event Management can allow you to enter the Arts and Entertainment industry through logistical roles.

According to data from the Central Statistics Office, wages for those working in the Admin and Support Service sector rose by 27.7% in the past five years. At the end of Q3 2022, the average hourly wage in this sector was €21.31. Roles in this area can offer lucrative salaries and can have plenty of room for growth. Those who are looking for work in this area can find reliable salaries that also can grow year on year.

Typical roles in this area could be working in HR, being a bookkeeper or payroll administrator, or working in a receptionist or office management role.

If you’re keen to begin work in this area, taking courses in Administration, Bookkeeping, Payroll, and Human Resources can equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. This is an accessible sector that suits all-rounders or those who are keen to manage others in a professional setting.

According to data from the Central Statistics Office, wages for those working in the Information and Communication sector rose by 36.9% in the past five years. At the end of Q3 2022, the average hourly wage in this sector was €39.69. For those looking for the highest-paying jobs in Ireland, the Information and Communication sector is the best place to find them. Out of all job sectors, the Central Statistics Office report found that this sector paid the highest hourly salary and saw rapid growth in wages over the past five years, rising by over a third in that period.

This is a wide-ranging job sector, but common roles in this area would include an IT technician, web developer, software engineer, and network administrator, among many others. If you’re looking for a competitive salary, top talent opportunities will be found in the Irish capital. Dublin is home to the Silicon Docks, which is home to the European headquarters of major multinational tech companies, such as Facebook, Amazon, and Twitter, meaning that many job opportunities here pay some of the highest salaries in Ireland.

Before deciding how you want to become qualified for Information and Communication, it’s important to think about the role you want to pursue. Roles in this sector vary hugely, so you’ll need to pick your specialism ahead of time. Getting to grips with common software and having an understanding of coding can open you up to lots of different roles, so that’s a good place to start. Courses in IT and Coding can give you a foundational knowledge to take into a professional setting.